Dianthus plant named ‘KonD1039K1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘KonD1039K1’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; relatively long silvery green-colored leaves; freely and remontant flowering habit; light purple-colored double flowers with dark purple-colored central ring; vernalization treatment not required for flowering; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dianthus hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KonD1039K1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dianthusplant, botanically known as Dianthus hybrida, grown commercially as acontainer and garden plant and hereinafter referred to by the name‘KonD1039K1’.

The new Dianthus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Westerbrok, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new hardy Dianthus plants withremontant flowering habit with good container and garden performance.

The new Dianthus plant originated from a cross-pollination in May, 2009of a proprietary selection of Dianthus hybrida identified as code numberD928, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Dianthus hybrida identified as code number E108, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, plant. The new Dianthus plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor in July, 2010 as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled environment in Westerbrok, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dianthus plant by vegetive terminalcuttings propagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in Chicago,Ill. since September, 2010 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Dianthus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dianthus have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KonD1039K1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KonD1039K1’ as a new and distinct Dianthusplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Relatively long silvery green-colored leaves.    -   3. Freely and remontant flowering habit.    -   4. Light purple-colored double flowers with dark purple-colored        central ring.    -   5. No vernalization requirement for flowering.    -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Dianthus differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Dianthus are more silvery green        than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Dianthus have shorter peduncles than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Dianthus flower and the female parent        selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection have light red purple-colored flowers without a        central ring.

Plants of the new Dianthus differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dianthus are more vigorous than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Dianthus and the male parent selection        differ in flower type as plants of the male parent selection        have single-type flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Dianthus have longer peduncles than plants        of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Dianthus can also be compared to plants of Dianthusplumarius ‘Angel of Peace’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,536. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dianthus differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Angel of Peace’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dianthus are denser than plants of ‘Angel        of Peace’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dianthus have better garden performance        than plants of ‘Angel of Peace’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dianthus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dianthus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘KonD1039K1’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘KonD1039K1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements were grown during the winter and spring in one-galloncontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. and undercultural practices typical of commercial container Dianthus production.During the final production phase of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 21° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 16°C. Plants were pinched two times during the propagation phase and wereeight months old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus hybrida ‘KonD1039K1’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            hybrida identified as code number D928, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            hybrida identified as code number E108, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at            temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 20° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About six to seven weeks at temperatures ranging            from 7° C. to 16° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color, actual            color of the roots dependent on substrate composition, water            quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, typically            grown as a container and garden plant; upright to outwardly            spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 26            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 13            cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 36 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Branching habit: Freely basal branching            habit with numerous primary lateral stems; each primary            lateral stem with secondary lateral stems potentially            forming at every node. Length, primary lateral stems: About            26 cm. Length, secondary lateral stems: About 10 cm.            Diameter, primary lateral stems: About 2.5 mm. Diameter,            secondary lateral stems: About 1.5 mm. Internode length,            proximally: About 3 cm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect,            primary lateral stems: Outward to upright. Aspect, secondary            lateral stems: About 45° from primary lateral stem axis.            Cross-section: Round, hollow. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: Close to N137A; waxy cuticle, close            to 189A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—Relatively long, about 8 cm.        -   Width.—About 4 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate; decurrent.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; waxy            cuticle, close to 189A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 146A to 146B; waxy cuticle, close to 189A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A;            waxy cuticle, close to 189A; venation, close to 147A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Terminal and axillary            double flowers arranged singly or in pairs; freely flowering            habit with numerous flowers developing during the flowering            season; flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Consistent remontant flowering            habit from the early spring until the autumn in northern            Illinois; plants do not require a vernalization treatment to            initiate flowering.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; clove-like, sweet.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Oblong; styles not extruded. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 137A; towards the            base, close to 144A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3 cm.        -   Petals and petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About 10 to            15 petals/petaloids arrange in about two to three whorls.            Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm; at the base,            about 2 mm. Shape: Spatulate, fan-shaped. Apex: Praemorse.            Base: Elongated, tapering to a point. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 76A; central ring, close to 77A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 76B. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 76A; central ring, close to 77A; towards            the base and throat, close to NN155C; venation, similar to            lamina; with development, main color becoming closer 76B to            76C and ring maintains color, close to 77A. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 76B to 76C; tube, close to NN155C            and 145D; venation, similar to lamina; with development,            main color becoming closer to 76C to 76D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl; proximal 75% portion of the sepals are fused            into a tubular-shaped calyx. Length: About 2 cm. Sepal            width, at base of “free” portion: About 4 mm. Shape: Oblong.            Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, inner            surface: Close to 144A. Color, outer surface: Close to 137A;            towards the base, close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Erect to outwardly.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to            N137A; waxy cuticle, close to 189A.        -   Pedicels (when flowers arranged in pairs).—Length: About            5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Aspect: About 45° from the peduncle axis. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to N137A; waxy            cuticle, close to 189A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five stamens            per flower. Filament length: About 1.7 cm. Filament color:            Close to NN155C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape:            Oblong. Anther color: Close to 10D. Pollen: None observed.            Pistils: Quantity: About two per flower. Pistil length:            About 3.1 cm. Stigma shape: Pointed, curled. Stigma color:            Close to NN155C. Style length: About 2.2 cm. Style color:            Close to NN155C. Ovary shape: Oblong. Ovary texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Ovary color: Close to 145A. Fruits and seeds:            Fruit and seed development have not been observed on plants            of the new Dianthus to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dianthus have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dianthus    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dianthus have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5a to 9a.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dianthus plant named ‘KonD1039K1’as illustrated and described.